Evidence of meeting #65 for Veterans Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was survey.
A video is available from Parliament.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Are you aware that the process, your government's process, was not followed at all? To some extent, you have tainted both the process and the government in this affair.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Once again, we decided to truly listen to veterans.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Let's get back to the issue of veterans.
Canada's largest polling and analytical research firm, Léger, proved that the survey was not a survey and that the result was flawed, since said survey did not include any methodology. That is the opinion of the Léger firm, which in fact produced a magnificent four-page report to that effect.
In this context, do you think it's ethical to rely on a poll when you know it's invalid?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Mr. Desilets, it could have been a survey, a consultation or a questionnaire. All we wanted was to learn the opinion of Canadians across the country, and more specifically the opinion of veterans. That's why the Department of Veterans Affairs sent messages to veterans, using the various tools at its disposal. That's why the majority of survey respondents were veterans or members of their families.
Bloc
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Once again, we sent out the questionnaire, the consultation document, from one end of the country to the other, since we wanted to know what veterans thought.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
One of the main problems identified by Léger was that not everyone had the same amount of time to complete the survey. There was a six-day extension. Are you aware of this?
Liberal
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Are you aware that the majority of people responding to the survey are from Ottawa? Are you aware that only 12% of respondents were francophones, even though they make up 25% of the population? These are examples of data distorted by methodology, Minister. This survey cannot be taken into account when deciding on a $3‑million project.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Making sure veterans are heard is a top priority for me. In my opinion, this survey, this consultation, this questionnaire—I don't know what word to use—is of great importance to make sure we hear the opinions of veterans and their family members, since they are the ones who made the sacrifices.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Do you know which province the Daoust firm is located in?
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
It's located in Quebec, whereas Mr. Stimson is from Alberta.
Bloc
Luc Desilets Bloc Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC
Have you had any contact with the firm? They tried several times to call the department, the previous minister, then the current one.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
Personally, I was quite open to meeting with the Daoust firm. I spoke to colleagues and told them I was prepared to meet with them.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Emmanuel Dubourg
Thank you for your comments, Mr. Desilets.
That brings this round of questions to an end.
I invite Ms. Blaney to use her six minutes, please.
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
Thank you so much, Chair.
Thank you for being here, Minister. I really appreciate it. Welcome to this new role. I look forward to working with you and, hopefully, in a good way.
I want to acknowledge that in the audience we have a lot of veterans. It's really good to see that.
We have not only veterans here, of course, but the people who support veterans. Thank you as well for being here.
I do see that our Persian Gulf War veteran is here, so I hope, Madam, that you are taking this concern.... I hope you've been aware of it and that you take it up pretty seriously.
I also want to personally welcome Phil, who is here. He is a veteran who has been outside of the House for the last few days and is actually on the third day of a hunger strike.
I'm calling on you, Minister, to meet with him very soon, hopefully, to address the real issues that he has. I just thought I would bring that to your attention.
NDP
Rachel Blaney NDP North Island—Powell River, BC
I need a quick response because I have only six minutes.
Liberal
Ginette Petitpas Taylor Liberal Moncton—Riverview—Dieppe, NB
—again, if there's a veteran who certainly wants to meet with me, I'm more than happy to do so—